Janice Griffin

UPDATE: Steed is there.

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee is having its most important meeting in decades, and roll call of the 30-member committee appointed by Howard Dean just took place.

Of Maryland's members, Janice Griffin is there, but Michael Steed did not respond when his name was called.

Is he late, or just not there?

Hey conspiracy theorists, chew on this: Griffin is an Obama supporter. Steed is for Clinton.

Janice Griffin, a member of the Democratic National Committee’s Credentials Committee, told PolitickerMD.com that she expects Florida and Michigan’s delegations “will be seated” at the Democratic National Convention.  As a member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee, Griffin voted last year to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates.

When asked how those states’ delegates should be allocated between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Griffin said, ““I have not had time to think about it yet.”

Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates after the states moved their primaries to January, in violation of Democratic Party rules.

Janice Griffin, a Maryland superdelegate and supporter of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), told PolitickerMD.com that Democratic superdelegates should support whichever candidate they think would make the best president - even if their votes would tilt the balance of the primary race.

"The rules are the rules," Griffin said when asked about the role of superdelegates. "A superdelegate can cast their vote anyway they want to."

Griffin would not speculate as to how the Democratic battle for the nomination would end, saying, "I'm not going there."

Obama leads rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) 1490-1334 among pledged delegates, and 1732-1599 when committed superdelegates are factored into the equation, according to an NBC News count.

While neither candidate will be able to obtain the necessary 2,025 total delegates needed to secure the nomination without the aid of superdelegates, a Clinton lead among pledged delegates at the conclusion of the nominating contests is a virtual mathematical impossibility.